Radohima appears from the valley bottom as a half moon shaped dome and it’s peak is indeed a narrow ridge with steep walls to the North and South. This is the typical shape of many of the highest peaks in the Albanians Alps (like Jezerca or Gryka te Hapta) and is called in German Karlinge or described as a pyramidial peak in English, one of the most famous such mountains is the Matterhorn.
The peak separates two Karst plateaus that are surrounded by mountains often rising above 2400m. On the south it’s Gropa e Radohimes, where Bulgarian Cavers possibly discovered Albania’s deepest cave, the other lowers towards the Cem-Nikc Valley and features a small lake.
From the peak most of the major peaks of Prokletije are visible, views reach from Theth and Kelmend to Montenegro and Kosovo in the distance and on good days even as far as the Sar range, Durmitor and Albania’s highest mountain at the border with Macedonia, Mt Korab.
As you might have noticed already, we simply love that mountain 😉
Walk the Line
The shortest possible ascent route to Radohimes. The last part over the ridge of the half dome is quite narrow and not suitable for people who suffer from vertigo.
Instead of following the scenic ridge above the Shtegu i Dhenve this path enters the Gropa e Radohimes at the lowest possible point. It’s used by shepherds from Grope e Portes in the height of summer, so the track is quite easy to follow until you turn of to climb up to the summit. You could also do a circular trip and combine the approach route of the second tour with the one seen below or even tackle Radohimes coming from Arapit.
Maximum altitude:
Minimum altitude:
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Date of this record:
2570 meter
1608 meter
1025 meter
6.05 kilometers
difficult
about 4:30 hours up / 3h down = 7:30h
November 2012
Mountain Marathon
If there would be something like an Albanian mountain marathon, this could be it! With almost 34km length it resembles the route that the messenger Pheidippides ran 490 B.C in ancient Greece. The only difference, it took him two days!
Maximum altitude:
Minimum altitude:
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Date of this record:
2570 meter
740 meter
2395 meter
33.33 kilometers
very difficult
about 18h
June 2012
The first part follows the car road, see our other Qafa Thores trail if you like to avoid the drive way, and shortcuts over beautiful meadows with views to Okol and Qafa Pejes (where you will descend) to the North and Maja e Alijes to the NE. Once you arrive at the Buni i Thores look for the marked turn off, the small lake to the left names this area as Liqeni i Thores.
Arriving on the small saddle your views gaze over the valley of Gropa e Portes. The path is clearly visible and if you stick to the right leads you past a summer pasture to a small pond. Aim for the ridge right away or make your way up to Shtegu i Dhenve first.
Follow the ridge and enjoy the briliant views, the pass above you at 2225m should be visible by now. It’s a bit of an up & down but the scenery a lot nicer than the second trail into Gropa e Radohimes. Once you arrive at the rim make your way down, there’s no clear path, watch your step as the karstic rock can be razor sharp.
Traverse the valley and take new aim at the saddle East of the summit. This part is steep and tricky, I got lost for a moment in the thick fog and started to climb the sheer wall, please do it better and aim for the saddle. After making your way to the summit return to this point and descend in the terraced canyon.
Once you arrive at its mouth circle around Arapit, you could actually use the Western Arapit route but it’s very steep, orientation difficult and the views on the extension well worth the detour; the good path from Qafa e Pejes makes up for the time-loss.
The rest of the track is straight-forward and brings you first to Okol and then back to the center of Theth. Look at our Arapit Circle track for more information regarding this part and the Western route.
Keep in mind that the recorded trail is supposed to be scenic but not the shortest possible route. The most convenient place to break your journey is the Gropa e Radohimes.